Dunkirk

[duhn-kurk]

noun

1. French Dunkerque. a seaport in N France: site of the evacuation of a British expeditionary force of over 330,000 men under German fire May 29–June 4, 1940.

2. a period of crisis or emergency when drastic measures must be enforced.

   The smaller nations were facing a financial Dunkirk.

3. a city in W New York, on Lake Erie.

Dunkirk

1. The scene of a remarkable, though ignominious, retreat by the British army in World War II. Dunkirk, a town on the northern coast of France, was the last refuge of the British during the fall of France, and several hundred naval and civilian vessels took the troops back to England in shifts over three days.

The term Dunkirk is sometimes used to signify a desperate retreat.

Example Sentences

He won the DGA award for outstanding directorial achievement in theatrical feature film for “Oppenheimer” and was previously nominated for his films “Dunkirk,” “Inception,” “The Dark Knight” and “Memento.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said he had lived in France, sleeping rough, and eventually made his way to Dunkirk to try to cross to England.

From BBC

Now Abdullah does the same, asking me to send photos showing my journey to the forest from a bus stop in Dunkirk.

From BBC

"There's no danger," said smuggler Abdullah last week, as he spoke to our undercover colleague and gestured towards a cluster of tents hidden deep within a forest outside the French port of Dunkirk.

From BBC

Monday's third stage is a 178km run to Dunkirk, where a mass bunch sprint is expected.

From BBC